San Rafael voters support schools, approve Measures A and B

San Rafael voters showed strong support for local public schools Tuesday, renewing 24-year-old parcel taxes that will help fund San Rafael elementary and high school districts.

In a mail-in election, 78.5 percent of voters, or 7,409, approved Measure A, the San Rafael elementary school tax, and 79 percent of voters, or 12,061, supported Measure B for San Rafael high schools. The measures, which will extend the taxes another eight years, needed two-thirds votes of support to pass. The turnout was just under 40 percent for both measures.

Paul Cohen, San Rafael City Schools Board of Education president, said he and his fellow board members were extremely pleased.

"We're grateful for the tremendous support of the voters in San Rafael," Cohen said. "It's really special we have such strong support from the community."

Michael Watenpaugh, San Rafael City Schools superintendent, agreed.

"It is probably the largest winning margin that I can recall, which indicates such strong support for our public schools," Watenpaugh said. "It's a huge vote of confidence and endorsement for the district."

Voters had until 8 p.m. Tuesday to cast their ballots. Ballots received on Election Day will be counted this week and results will be updated Friday, according to the county elections office.

The school tax is $132.50 per parcel for the high school district and another $194 per parcel for the elementary district, which excludes north San Rafael. The tax can increase by 5 percent per year. Last year the tax generated $4.8 million — about 7.9 percent of the district's general fund revenue.

Cohen said revenues from the tax are used to keep class sizes smaller, strengthen core curriculum, maintain technology services and support student counseling. He said the board has been forced to make budget cuts, but has tried to keep any funding reductions away from classrooms.

"This is going to support core academic programs. I think that's the reason it's had such strong support," Cohen said.

The parcel tax previously came up for renewal in 2005. It was approved with 74 percent of the vote in the high school district and 71 percent in the elementary district.